Phitsanulok: The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) and the Consumer Protection Police Division (CIB) have conducted a raid on a cooking gas filling plant in Phlai Chumphon, Tha Thong, and Tha Pho sub-districts, Mueang District, Phitsanulok Province, after discovering practices that resulted in underfilled gas cylinders, thereby causing damage to consumers. The public is advised to be vigilant about their gas usage, particularly if it seems to deplete faster than usual.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Yanee Srimanee, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade, reported that the raid, carried out on October 16, 2015, uncovered a facility in the Tha Pho sub-district where 52 15-kilogram gas cylinders had an average shortage of 1.3 kilograms of gas. Authorities seized the cylinders and charged the facility with violations under the Weights and Measures Act B.E. 2542 (1999), which included “packaging goods knowingly and unknowingly that the quantity displayed was incorrect, which could cause damage to others or the public,” and “selling goods knowingly and unknowingly that the quantity displayed was incorrect.” The Phitsanulok City Police Station is set to pursue further legal action against the offenders.
Further investigations on October 17, 2015, by the Phitsanulok Branch Office of Weights and Measures identified 193 unsealed cooking gas cylinders, all of which were found to be underfilled. Consequently, officials mandated that the filling plant manager ensure the cylinders are fully filled and verified for accuracy before distribution.
The Deputy Director-General emphasized the severity of this consumer exploitation, noting that consumers are forced to pay the full price while receiving less than what is advertised, thus undermining trade fairness and public trust. In response, the Department of Internal Trade is intensifying inspections of scales, measuring devices, and gas filling establishments across the nation to uphold correct and fair trade practices. The public is encouraged to monitor their gas usage and report any discrepancies to the Department of Internal Trade hotline at 1569, or at Weights and Measures branch offices or provincial commercial offices nationwide, to combat consumer exploitation and support national economic fairness.